Toward sound problem identification, policy formulation and design
This chapter highlights
the management tools and
the policy instruments that can enhance the quality of problem identification, policy formulation and policy design.
The first part of this chapter addresses ways to bolster strategic planning, civil servant skills and digital capacities to improve policy formulation. It lays out the way in which regulatory policy and budgetary governance can be used strategically to eschew governance failures during the policy formulation process.
Core questions for consideration by governments
3.1 Management tools for policy formulation and design
Does your government have in place a robust multi-year strategic planning framework? Does this framework link strategic plans together and with the national budget?
Has your government undertaken specific measures to build civil service skills for policy formulation and design (e.g. through recruitment, promotion and training frameworks)?
Has your government established a legal or policy framework to facilitate the use of ICT as a mean to foster engagement and more participatory approaches in decision-making and the service design and delivery process?
Does your government evaluate the efficiency of its public procurement system?
3.2 The Strategic use of policy instruments
Has the government established policies, institutions and tools to ensure the quality and coherence of regulatory policy (e.g. the design, oversight and enforcement of rules in all sectors)?
Has the government established institutions and tools to ensure the involvement of stakeholders in the policy formulation process (with informing affected parties about the policy intentions and embedding an interactive dialogue with stakeholders in the process)?
To what extent are regulatory impact assessments used to evaluate the wider impacts and consequences of regulations, including on the competition, SMA and investment climate?
Does your government ensure the alignment of the annual budget, its multi-year budget frameworks as well as its capital-expenditure planning with strategic policy objectives, such as national development plans or the SDGs?
Has your government established mechanisms to facilitate or promote budget transparency and to discuss the budget with stakeholders such as citizens and civil society organisations during the budget-setting process?
Has your government implemented - or is planning to implement - specific policies for the development of a gender perspective on budget decisions?
Has your government implemented – or is planning to implement – specific policies to reflect environmental considerations in the budget documents and fiscal frameworks?
Country practices
3.1 Management tools for policy formulation and design